The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-05-13
"RECOLLECTIONS"
or THE
NC K1ssIoK RANasRs
BY 4 HEMDER.
80. IA.

hs our Nne Of skrmishers advanced on
Williamsburg on the morning of OH OF Sept,
w, the fog was so dense that you could not
zee distinctly 90 yards ahead of you. In front
stood negro cabin in the yard of which could
be seen persons moving about. 4 Lieutenant
in Company. c called out, If you fire that can
non here I'll not leave greasy spot where
you're standing 1t proved TO be some little
negroes WHO had climbed into an old wagon
standing in the yard They took to their heels
and left.
After ,-the Williamsburg raid we remained
several days at our camp near Dispatch Sta
tion. We rode the captured horses on duty
and gave our own horses chance TO recruit
On the 9th Of Sept. '62 another Conscript law
was passed, or, in other words, the first one
was so amended rs TO call inso service men up
to 30 years of age. BY this means use was
found fO- oil the captured stock that were fit
for duty to mount men who were unable TO
furnish themselves horses fit for service
Several citizens of Virginia enlisted in our
command These arc some of the cases to
which have already referred as the abomi-
nable effect of the Conscript law, and which
was the means Of implauting discord among
the troops. None Of them were really fit for
service, yet they addel to the numerical value
Of our command, and thus compelled it to per-
form more than ilspro rata share Of duty. /
can't remember but two of them in the Com
pany that ever done any duty-Joc Bell and
old man Dew, both Vlrginians. Bill was an
lrishman and had belonged to Virginia com
mand but was discharged for some disability.
Old man Dew was q kind of clown and
kept up his fun all the time. lie was yul-
gar old piece.
Speaking Of these reminds INC of an Incl
dent that took place in August G3 while we
were camped near Boar Swamp. An old man
belonging to Company G. pcrhaps he was
; substitute) came past where we were eating
dinner. lie had long stick and was using il
in both hands. Joe Leech said you've got it,
have you? Got whatT was his reply. Got
what you went AFTER Amt been after any,
thing yet. Joe said, Il thought you'd been
getting out some furlough timber To this
his reply was moro forcible than elegant.
About the last of September '62, we moved our
camp down Chickahominy to Forge mill, or
Providence Forge, as the place was known by
both names. We were now in fine fertile
country, plenty Of clover, hay, etc., for our
stock We took quarters in the Games house
and here we expected to spend the winter,
We stayed there until about the first of No
vember, when we recrossed tire creek and went
back towards Tallysville, about miles, to n
church called Hopewel, think. At Came 3
place nor this camp did we keep our armv
style of encampment. The men threw IN
such temporary cabins and huts as seemed
best adapted to their comfort. The Colonel
made his headquarters about q quarter Of q
mile off, in a house. Here our commissary
stores were deposited aud guard was kept on
duty nll the time. A posted guard was kept
on duty at the cncampment all the time. The
regular guard-mounting and guardhouse for
malitics were discontinued. IL was at this
camp we were staying when Lamartine Peake
and Tillman MIilwood were killed by the Fed
eral raiders, the circumstances of which were
about as follows:
We had three principal picket posts in 'front.'
one at DasconG bridge, James Gate and Taber.
naclc church. These POSTS were about 10
miles in front Of our camp. A detail of from
10 TO 10 men were kept on duty at each Of